DMK leader’s son suspended from Assembly

Chennai: Based on the recommendation of the State Assembly’s Privileges Committee, DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu’s son and party MLA T R B Raja was on Tuesday suspended for 10 days, including the current session and a few days in the next session, for violating House rules on September 5, 2011.

Assembly Speaker D Jayakumar said that during his suspension, Raja cannot avail of any benefits, including salary. DMK floor leader M K Stalin led his colleagues in a walk-out as the Speaker refused to give him an pportunity to speak in connection with the issue. The Speaker said since DMK MLA N Ramakrishnan had expressed the party’s views at the Privileges Committee meeting, there was no need for further discussion.

Talking to the media outside the House, Stalin said he was trying to request the Speaker to reduce the suspension from 10 days to five days.

On September 5, 2011, Raja’s mobile phone was seized as he was seen recording in the House when a commotion broke out following an allegation made by AIADMK member P Vetrivel against DMK president M Karunanidhi. The Speaker referred the issue to the Privileges Committee and its recommendations were tabled in the Assembly by Committee Chairman and Deputy Speaker P Dhanapal on Tuesday.